The conflict that confronted the two Korean states from June 1950 to July 1953 and is an important link in the chain of the Cold War.
In its long history, the Korean Peninsula, located east of China and northwest of Japan, has been the apple of discord between these two major powers in the region. In 1895, Korea gained independence from China, but in the early 20th century Russia and Japan engaged in a bloody war (Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905) to claim it. The Japanese prevailed and with the Treaty of Portsmouth (5 September 1905) managed to put Korea under their sovereignty.
The Yalta Conference (4-11 February 1945) was a turning point in the country's history. The Soviet Union and the United States, as allies and victors of World War II, decided to take over the fate of Korea from the defeated Japan. The peninsula was artificially divided at the 38th Parallel and two states were created: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea or North Korea led by the communist Kim Il Sung and the Republic of Korea or South Korea led by the authoritarian right-wing Shingman Ri.
Over time, the two states, representing two different worlds, each sought to reunify Korea for their own benefit. The Soviet Union had made the North Korean army powerful with modern tanks and planes, while the United States had significantly neglected the South Korean army.
The Conflict
At 4 am on 25 June 1950, the North Korean army crossed the border of the 38th parallel at 11 points, taking the South Koreans and Americans completely by surprise. Within three days, Kim Il-sung's troops had occupied Seoul and almost all of South Korean territory, with the exception of the area around the port of Pusan in the east of the country.[BR] The UN Security Council immediately took up the matter and ordered a cease-fire and the withdrawal of North Korean forces from the 38th parallel. With US intervention, it called on the member states of the Organization to send military aid to South Korea. The Soviet Union missed the opportunity to veto it, as it was abstaining from the work of the Organization at the time.
Fifteen states responded to the UN's call and sent their forces to South Korea to repel the "red menace" (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States). Five were content to provide medical and sanitary material (Denmark, Italy, Italy, Sweden, Norway, India), while neighboring Japan provided military facilities to the American forces stationed on its territory.
Our country's expeditionary force consisted of an infantry battalion of increased strength, a squadron of transport planes and small auxiliary echelons, for a total strength of 1,263 men. The Americans intervened first with their forces stationed in Japan. General Douglas MacArthur was in overall command.
The Korean War is divided into four periods:
- 25 June 15 September 1950.[BR]
- 16 September 25 November 1950: On 16 September 1950, the Americans land an entire army corps at Inchon, in the rear of the North Korean forces and cut them off. Seoul is retaken on 26 September 1950 and a link-up with the Pusan forces is achieved. Quickly, the North Koreans retreat to the 38th parallel. The Americans pursue them and enter their territory, now aiming to reunify Korea to their advantage. MacArthur was ordered by President Truman not to make any attempt against neighbouring China and to remain strictly within Korean territory.
- 26 November 1950 10 January 1951: the Chinese enter the war, reinforcing the North Korean Army with 189,000 men. They annihilate an American division and force the Americans to withdraw to the 38th parallel. MacArthur's insistence on moving the war to China provokes opposition from the US political leadership and his replacement by General Ridgeway in April 1951. The Greek Expeditionary Force began operating in early 1951.
- April 1951 27 July 1953: After five months of fierce fighting, the front was stabilized at the 38th parallel, which allowed peace negotiations to begin and an armistice to be signed on 27 July 1953.
The total casualties of both camps reached 2 million souls, while some analysts put it at 4 million. Some 100,000 South Korean and Allied men died on the battlefield and 280,000 were wounded, while for the North Koreans and their Allies the death toll exceeded 400,000 and the wounded 486,000. The Greek campaign paid a heavy toll, with 187 killed and 614 wounded.
Despite its long duration and the powerful forces involved, this conflict, which took place at the height of the Cold War, had all the characteristics of a "limited conflict". It was in fact an indirect confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States. The Korean War has not theoretically ended to this day, as no peace treaty has been signed. US forces remain in South Korea by the thousands, mainly in the demilitarized zone of the 38th parallel.
Source: sansimera
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